TACKLING SPORT’ S UNSEEN MENTAL BATTLES
The tragic recent death of Bafana Bafana player Jayden Adams has once again highlighted the importance of talking openly about mental health in sport. It has sparked important conversations about depression, anxiety and the pressures athletes face, while reminding us that mental health struggles can affect anyone, regardless of how strong or successful they may appear. To help unpack some of these issues and challenge the stigma that still surrounds mental health, we spoke to leading South African sports psychologist Dr Kirsten van Heerden.
Athletes are often viewed as mentally tough and resilient. Why can this make it difficult for them to recognise or admit when they are struggling with their mental health?
One of the biggest misconceptions is that mental toughness and mental health are the same thing. They overlap, but they’ re very different.
Mental toughness is about being able to execute skills under pressure, while mental health relates to your overall wellbeing. Michael Phelps is a good example. Nobody would question his mental toughness, yet he has been very open about his struggles with mental health.
The problem is that athletes are often told they are tough and resilient, so when they experience depression, anxiety or other mental health challenges, it can feel like weakness. There is still a stigma attached to mental health, and many athletes worry that struggling means they are somehow mentally weak. That simply isn’ t true.
What are some of the warning signs that an athlete may be experiencing depression, anxiety or other mental health challenges, and what should teammates, coaches, friends and family be looking out for?
This can be difficult because performance often hides what is really going on. An athlete may still be winning races or performing well while struggling internally.
Some common warning signs include changes in behaviour, becoming more irritable, withdrawing from others, low energy levels, poor recovery from training, changes in sleep or eating patterns, and increasingly negative thinking. One of the biggest red flags is when someone starts to lose hope and feels that things will never improve.
The people closest to an athlete are often best placed to notice subtle changes because they know what is normal for that person. Coaches, teammates, family members and support staff all play an important role.
What’ s also important is helping athletes recognise their own warning signs before they reach a crisis point. Everyone’ s red flags look slightly different, which is why education and awareness are so important for both athletes and the people around them.
Many athletes experience emotional lows after major competitions, injuries, retirement, non-selection or a loss of form. Why do these periods affect people so deeply, and how can athletes navigate them in a healthy way?
Post-event lows are very common. Athletes often spend years focusing on a major competition such as the Olympics or Commonwealth Games. Their lives revolve around that goal, and they live in a very focused environment.
34 www. modernathlete. co. za